Pet corner
Worried about toxic herbs? Stick with tonics
May/June 1999
By Randy Kidd, D.V.M.
I ONCE READ that more than 700 plants are toxic
to animals. Whew! Some folks must think that almost every weed on
the planet is a potential pet killer.
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But, as my grandkids say, chill out. You don’t need to fret
about each and every herb you use—especially when you know some
commonsense safeguards. All of my pet patients have taken herbal
prescriptions, and I’m very comfortable with herb safety and
effectiveness.
Admittedly, some herbs can be toxic to pets—especially when used
incorrect- ly. Cats in particular are extra-sensitive because they
have digestive systems that are vulnerable to substances that pose
no problems for other critters. And certain herbs shouldn’t be used
on any animal at specific times, such as during pregnancy or
nursing.
Toxic or not?
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(ASPCA) and other sources list several herbs as potentially toxic
to animals, including eucalyptus, foxglove, primrose, cherry seeds
and leaves, and aloe vera. But this list may not provide the whole
picture. For example:
Licorice root may cause sodium retention, a
danger to some heart patients. Some reports of licorice toxicity
involve potent extracts once used to make candy; whole licorice is
the most widely used herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine, valued
for its adaptogenic and flavoring effects. Nearly all my animal
patients have taken licorice root without ill effects.
Pennyroyal is supposed to repel fleas, so it’s
often used in products such as flea collars. But there have been
several reports of cats dying after wearing the “all natural”
collars. The collars are typically made of distilled pennyroyal
essence, which can be fifty times stronger than tea from the whole
plant. But I’ve watched my cats in our backyard pennyroyal patch,
eating the leaves and rolling with glee much as they do with their
other favorite plant, catnip. I haven’t seen any adverse effects
from the whole plant, but use caution with the essential oil.
St.-John’s-wort may cause “photosensitization,”
a word that in itself is obviously meant to scare the bejeezus out
of you. Photosensitization simply means that the animal is more
sensitive to sunlight, and it happens only rarely. St.-John’s-wort
has far fewer side effects than the newer “designer drugs” that
have recently come on the market to help with pet behavioral
problems, which can cause nausea, joint problems, fluid retention,
mania, and dizziness.
Onion is the new “no no” herb. Skeptics love to
point to it when they try to discredit herbal therapies.
Experiments on cats show that onions, even in small amounts, cause
red blood cell abnormalities. But I know several holistic
veterinarians who routinely prescribe onion, and they haven’t
reported any problems. What’s going on here? It could be a matter
of dosage, but it also may be oxidation. Cats under the care of a
holistic veterinarian would typically be taking an antioxidant
supplement, making them far less susceptible to the adverse effects
of onion.
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